Dutch jurist accuses Ministry of Defense of ignoring sick soldiers

Ferre van de Nadort, a former Dutch soldier and jurist, claims that the Dutch army ignores sick soldiers.  When he was in the army he worked in the legal department and dealt with cases where soldiers became ill because of contact with asbestos and chrome 6 paint.  He says that open air burning of waste at army camps (burnpits) may have caused damage to soldiers.  He has established a website where soldiers can complain about illnesses possibly resulting from their army service.  So far, he has received hundreds of complaints.

https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/-ik-wil-het-zwijgen-bij-defensie-over-giftige-afvalrook-doorbreken-~bc07d2a3/

Little Support Left for Dutch Government

Only 35% of the Dutch population hopes that the current government completes its term.  This is the lowest percentage during this governmental period.  These results were found by a poll conducted by Maurice de Hond.

https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/3073078/peiling-steun-voor-regering-op-dieptepunt?utm_source=telegraaf&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=telegraaf_update_b&utm_content=Vandaaginhetnieuws_Peiling+steun+voor+regering+op+dieptepunt&utm_term=20190127120024_update_b&EMAIL_SK=SK5153880

Customs Employees at Rotterdam Harbor Suspected of Corruption

A new investigation by police regarding corruption amongst Custom employees at Rotterdam Harbor, has yielded three suspects.  When the police entered their homes, they found large amounts of cash and jewelry.

https://bit.ly/2S6VNxI

Amsterdam Municipal Council Wants to Give Local Passport to Illegal Citizens

The Green left party wants to give a local passport to about 10,000 illegal foreigners living in the country.  Several other parties support the idea.  It is assumed that many of these people have entered the Netherlands on a temporary visa and have stayed.  Among them are people from the Phillipines and Brazil.

https://www.ad.nl/amsterdam/amsterdamse-gemeenteraad-wil-lokaal-paspoort-voor-illegalen~a633be8d/

Dutch Consumer Confidence Drops For Sixth Consecutive Month

The Dutch Consumer Confidence Index has fallen for the sixth month in a row. The fall in January 2019 was the biggest in seven years. The Central Bureau of Statistics said that the consumers have more doubts about the economic climate and are less willing to spend money.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/01/dutch-consumer-confidence-drops-eight-points-sixth-fall-in-a-row/

Chinese Hack Economic Information in the Netherlands

Cyber security company, Fox-IT, says that there must be victims in the Netherlands of the Chinese state hacker group, APT10.  The Chinese are interested in patents and intellectual properties with which they can gain economic advantage in the future.  A Dutch company can lose a tender because information has been stolen, thereafter the Chinese bidder can make an offer somewhat cheaper than the Dutch offer. 

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/aivd-chinese-geheime-dienst-hackt-gevoelige-info-in-nederland~a6310fb12/

Turkey Expels Dutch Correspondent

Turkey has expelled Dutch journalist Johanna Cornelia Boersma, the freelance correspondent for the Financieele Dagblad.  A spokesman of Prime Minister Erdogan has said that the Turkish authorities have received information from the Dutch police that she had contacts with a terrorist organization. 

https://www.ad.nl/buitenland/turkije-boersma-had-banden-met-een-terroristische-organisatie~a9af0c48/

Dutch Secondary School System too Rigid

The chairwoman of the Dutch Education Council, Henriette Maassen-Van den Brink, said that first year secondary school pupils  should be taught in mixed ability classes. In that way they get to know people from a wider section of society. Another problem is that many Dutch secondary schools, particularly in cities, no longer offer a mix of academic streams and children are segregated from other ability groups. People end up living in their own clubs and that can create a schism in society.

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2018/12/dutch-secondary-school-system-too-rigid-leads-to-segregation/

Investigation of Police on Corruption

The official prosecutor has confirmed that there will be an investigation by the National Detective Service of the tenders for alcohol breath analyzers by the Dutch police. The Tomar company which supplies breath analyzers has brought a complaint against the Dutch police because of misinformation, abuse of power and blackmail.

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/onderzoek-naar-corruptie-bij-aanbesteding-alcoholtesters-politie~a7a1eae3/

Steel Factory Pollutes Neighboring Town

Black particles from the Tata Steel factory rained down over the town of Wijk aan Zee.  An investigation found that pollution from the particles could be potentially hazardous for the health of the citizens.  The company is sending people to clean houses and cars of residents.  The Inspectorate for the Environment and Transport lodged a complaint against Tata Steel’s permit which currently doesn’t have to take measures to reduce emission of some nitrogen oxides.

https://eenvandaag.avrotros.nl/item/zorgen-om-gezondheid-rond-fabriek-tata-steel/

Iran Murdered Two People In The Netherlands

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that Iran most likely murdered two Iranians who were opponents of their government.  One murder took place in 2015 in Almere and the other in 2017 in The Hague.  The information for this claim was provided by Dutch and Foreign Security Services.

https://www.parool.nl/binnenland/blok-iran-zat-achter-moorden-in-nederland~a4619282/

Police Storm Train To Apprehend Suspects

Heavily armed police stormed a passenger train to capture two men in a train car.  It was one of three separate incidents within two hours near the Zwolle train station.  In total, five people were arrested.  Rumors on social media said that the arrests were related to a bomb threat, however this has not yet been confirmed by the police.

https://nltimes.nl/2019/01/06/video-possible-bomb-threat-leads-train-arrests-zwolle

Radical Islam Promoting Books in High Security Dutch Prison Library

In the high security prison library in Vught, books by radical Muslims including those written by people banned from entering the UK for praising suicide are available on loan to prisoners.  The Dutch prison service admits this but says that all loan requests are assessed by experts to see if they should be granted.  Liberal parliamentarian Foort van Oosten says that taking action against books does not fit in with a concept of a free society. 

https://www.dutchnews.nl/news/2019/01/books-promoting-radical-islam-in-dutch-high-security-prison-library/

Rotterdam: Increased number of firework victims at Eye Hospital

Seventeen people arrived at the Rotterdam Eye Hospital, due to eye damage caused from fireworks, mainly related to New Years’ Eve celebrations.  That is an increase of four more than last year. The youngest victim, was 5 years old.  In 2017, due to New Years’ Eve fireworks, 120 people sustained eye injuries in the Netherlands.  In 4 out of 10 cases, the damage is permanent.

www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2978127/oogziekenhuis-ziet-meer-vuurwerkslachtoffers

Rotterdam: Another Terrorism Suspect Arrested.

Two days ago another terrorism suspect was arrested. This is not related to the arrests last week of five terrorists, four of which in Rotterdam. He will be interrogated by the public prosecution.

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/opnieuw-terreurverdachte-24-aangehouden-in-rotterdam~affc43f7/

Great Increase in Appeals for Problems on New Year’s Eve

Police, ambulance staff and fire brigades have responded to far more emergencies this New Year’s Eve than last year. They were called upon 3,150 times between 6pm and 2am on New Year.  That is an increase of about 50%. Two people died as a result of exposure fireworks.

https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/artikel/4536611/drukke-jaarwisseling-voor-hulpdiensten-ruim-3000-alarmeringen